Rep. Bob Etheridge gets vicious in viral video -- but who filmed it and why?

So, what really happened when Rep. Bob Etheridge ran into a couple of self-described "students" on the streets of D.C. last week? The video confrontation between the obscure seven-term North Carolina Dem and two camera-wielding young men ("Who are you?" he demands. "Tell me who you are," as he grabs the wrist of one) went viral Monday and left more questions than answers.

Who are the videographers? Lots of theories about GOP operatives, but no one has come forward to take credit, reports our colleague David Weigel. The reason for stopping Etheridge outside a fundraiser for Nancy Pelosi? "A project," one of the men said on the video. Anything happen that's not on the tape? Unclear, since no other version of the encounter has emerged. The National Journalism Center and the Leadership Institute, two Virginia organizations that train conservative journalists (the latter boasts ACORN sting artist James O'Keefe), flatly denied the men worked for them, as did the National Republican Congressional Committee.

"I apologize for my actions," Etheridge said during a news conference Monday afternoon. "They were unacceptable." He declined to say if parts of the exchange were edited out or speculate if conservatives had staged the clash for ... well, a viral video. "I'm not going there," he said.

I wonder, if he were an Arizona cop instead of a congressman, would this have made the evening news? Would MSNBC be all over the story? Why is it a congressman can put his hands on a law abiding, US citizen and demand to know who he is, but an Arizona cop asking someone for ID, is profiling? This is the reason we are where we are today: people who are legislating aren't fit morally to do so and those carrying out the laws don't have the support from those whom they protect. Sickening.

Sec. 22.01. ASSAULT. (a) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another, including the person's spouse;
(2) intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury, including the person's spouse; or
(3) intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.

___________

The Congressman would be arrested in Texas. That someone is photographing you is no defense. These people think they are above the law. It stank when Rep. McKinney did it. It stinks when this man does it. Let him rot in jail.

This was an assault. Etheridge is not fit to hold office because his attitude makes his judgement unsound. His apology means nothing. We already know what he really thinks because he has shown it plainly. This man should be prosecuted. No wonder the nation is failing everywhere. With people like this in office things will get worse, much worse...

Disgusting as usual WaPo! If I didn't know what your agenda was I would struggle to confirm who was the villain in this story. What is it about the Progressive agenda that you are so desperate to protect? Is there anything that would get you to report the news rather than try to shape it? Is there anything vile enough that a Democrat/Socialist/Communist can do that would make you report the story in such a way as to portray the Democrat/Socialist/Communist in the poor light the deserve? I am struggling to understand why your allegiance to these people is so incredibly unflappable. I can't imagine what depths they must sink to for you to report the news as it should be in a story such as this. This Congressman is a despicable human being!

Under the new rules of the Obama Democratic Party any one who dares question an elected Democrat or run in a primary w/o permission is a Republican reactionary and enemy of the people.
These two citizens should be investigated as security risks.

For those who can't see the Socialist influence in this Democrat party, look no further than the comment above by JaeMolina. This type of rhetoric is straight out of any number of Communist propaganda publications espousing talking points seething with envy.

JaeMolina is the type of person this country's brave men and women spilled blood to protect us from. JaeMolina believes that there is no equal protection under the law, some people have less rights than others and property can be taken from them. JaeMolina is a Socialist. He'll try to convince you otherwise, but people who can't complete a sentence without anti-capitalist rhetoric cannot be trusted, period!

Wake up America, they're here and they have come to steal your child's birthright from you. They will sell out their own child in the process because they have naively fallen for the Communist schtick and believe they will benefit. Regardless of how pathetic their life becomes, as long as everyone else is equally miserable, people like JaeMolina will be satisfied with the shallow satisfaction that comes from ruining something for everyone else.

What difference does it make who Etheridge attacked? Is it "OK" that he attacked them if they were Republicans? Not students? Their identity is 100% irrelevant to his conduct, which unarguably terrible and disgraceful. Stop making excuses for this arrogant thug.

Etheridge didn't "attack" anyone. I just watched the video, and I have no idea what all the fuss is about! If anyone was "provoked" it was the Congressman. And why wouldn't the "student" who was filming him without permission identify himself or his "project"? OBVIOUSLY a set-up!

The identity of the questioners is beside the point. The congressman cannot treat them that way even if they are Republicans. That said, there is no reason to doubt the questioners were students. Listen to their voices. They sound like they just entered puberty. They are probably freshman in high school. They want their privacy. They do not want to face the harassment Joe the Plumber went through.

Anyone who attempts to defend this thuggish congressman has no place in any civil discussion of public policy. His actions are indefensible as he admits. So stop defending him. You are only embarrassing yourself.

This is agravated missdemeanor, and he is imune on missdemeanors. NO ARREST IS POSSIBLE, but we could Arnold to kick his a.s.s!

Posted by: BOBSTERII | June 14, 2010 11:32 PM

@BOBSTERII

I'm not sure where you got your law degree but I'm guessing it's the same place that taught you how to spell. You are 100% incorrect (spelling and comment). Any member of Congress or Senate or a Police Force or even a Supreme Court Justice is not immune to our nation's laws; misdemeanor or felony.

Not only should he be tried for assault, but he should submit to drug testing. What normal person behaves like that? And look at his face, does that look like someone clean to you? He serves public office, it should be mandatory anyways. We need to know our public workers are clean and sound of mind when they perform their duties.

I'll withhold judgment. There are, at least, two cameras. There is more to see. It is not irrelevant to know who are these 'students'. Were they alone? Did they have signs? Had they approached/encountered Etheridge previously? Are there words exchanged and things happening not being shown? Were they dressed as pimps? I couldn't resist, sorry 'bout that. What occured not on the released tape? No one thing will make the difference, but that doesn't excuse jumping to conclusions when ignorant to the totality of it all. Don't be naive, there are reasons for the fact we are seeing merely snippits. While putting your hands on someone is almost always over the line, there are exceptions. Again, let's know what this is in total.

the media is powerful. the same way they turned a simple question from joe the plumber because it touched one of their own, obama, the media destroyed joe the plumber. they would also destroy these two young men. they're smart to stay anonymous and let the left sell their souls to the devil by justifying actions that the perptrator already apologized for.

Who they are matters... ...and that they take such care to obscure their identities and refuse to come forward is... well, curious, at best.

I question whether this'd meet the burden of a legal assault, but if it is, these "students" and their "project" will have to man up and face the accused, out here in the open rather than behind the blur. It's lookin' like that will never happen, so we might as well stop the ersatz media trial now...

The congressman did behave badly, no doubt. While I don't believe he deserves to lose his job over it--I'm never a fan of these "one word or deed defines your whole career" situations, whether the protagonist is this guy, "macaca George" Allen, Helen Thomas, or Trent Lott--he most certainly did behave poorly.

Instead, it'd probably be a good idea for public figures like these to carry their own cameras at the ready (the better to film incidents like these from the other side, so as to prevent subsequent "creative editing"), and refuse to answer questions from ambush journalists and other faux media types who accost them on the streets and refuse to identify themselves and who or what they represent. People on the up-and-up don't edit the film after the fact (like Breitbart and his willing young lackies--I wouldn't be at all surprised if this wasn't traced back to him in some greater way) and/or disguise their own purposes or identities, because they have nothing to hide.

Ummm... Dear Washington Post. There are several website that offer the full, uncut, unedited videos from both cameras. Of course, prudent REPORTING would help here (Note: They were available LONG before the timestamp on this article).

WaPo seems to be very cautious in the condemnation of Bob Etheridge even though he has admitted atrocious behavior. Seems as if the reporters are more interested in who did the filming than the Democrat Congressman's behavior. Why would that be? Did he utter Macaca? Naw...

I too have to suspect that the over serving of potent beverages was involved here. Sadly, it is probably a case of this congressman being yanked out of his usual daily, all day, routine of seeking to quench his thirst and the stagger home. I blame his COS who is ultimately responsible for assigning someone on a daily basis to ensure that he makes it to the Metro.

I too have to suspect that the over serving of potent beverages was involved here. Sadly, it is probably a case of this congressman being yanked out of his usual daily, all day, routine of seeking to quench his thirst and the stagger home. I blame his COS who is ultimately responsible for assigning someone on a daily basis to ensure that he makes it to the Metro.

First, the assault when a complete stranger, shoved a camera and unknown object in Bob's face. So let's get it right, that boy committed the assault.

If I shove something in your face you have every right to grab my wrist and wrestle it away from my face and keep it at a distance. In criminal law, it's called "self-defense".

So Bob cuffed this little juvenile delinquent by the neck. La-ti-dah! If I did that when I was a boy (probably around 1968), when my parents found out, I'd have gotten a good tail whipping and DSS would not have cared one bit. Furthermore, my parents would have expected Mr. Etheridge to have given me a butt-whipping, too.

But wait! My parent's would never have found out. Bob asked who I was: I never said. When my co-conspirator said "We're students" he asked "From . . . ?" We never said! And then we hurried to our studio and covered our faces so you can't identify us and we posted anonymously!

Yeah, right.

Former U.S. Senator Robert b. Morgan got robbed twice in the same area when he was in DC.

Cheers for Bob Etheridge.

Shame on the Tea Party idiots trying to make political hay out of this. They have chosen the wrong side and they are promoting the wrong values.

It doesn't matter who they are. No one has to tolerate being manhandled or assaulted. I see you got the memo to start questioning the video and turn this around. There is no reason to put your hands on someone else, unless they ask you to. Walk away. Don't answer. Again, walk away. And if you do put your hands on someone and they ask you to take your hands off of them, remove yourself quickly. Walk away. Etheridge did not. If he believed they were provoking him from the beginning of the tape or off camera, as some are suggesting, walk away.

This was an assault and if this were a republican senator, WaPo would have this on the front page, screaming.

I would have grabbed the kid as well. No press credentials and cell phone cameras? This is a US senator and they should have never been allowed this type of access. I wonder if the id10t's on this board would have felt the same way if it we're Obama and not a senator????

Unbelievable (or is it?) this guy acts like a complete thug while committing two crimes and in typical liberal bias fashion the Washington Post slants the story to make Etheridge the victim. I'm shocked the WP managed to refrain from blaming tea party fanatics for this "setup". It matters not who these two young people were, they were not belligerent or menacing, they asked very simple questions to an elected official and he went ballistic, there is your story. Does the Washington Post not see what has happened to the Rocky Mountain News, Boston Globe, NYT and Seattle Post Intelligencer? Not to mention the dire straits Newsweek and Time and MSNBC find themselves in. The American people are sick and tired of a bias liberal media. Get with the program WP or find yourself out of business, don't think it can't happen.

Watch out fellas - the crazy democrats are coming to get ya! First our president looking to kick some a$$ (any a$$ that he doesn't like) and now this with the democrat congressman clearly manhandling a young teenage reporter. November cannot come anytime soon for the rest of us to return the favor to this arrogant party!

I've noted that the Post is trying to make this a story about the videographers.

Good luck with that.

The video speaks for itself and regardless of the motivations of the "students" or who may or may not have sent them, Bob Etheridge had a choice on how to react, and chose the worst possible response.

Its funny how no one ever asked Mike Wallace who sent him and why. This kind of journalism has a long, and if not a honorable history, an effective one.

Lots of politicians on both sides of the aisle have been ambushed in this manner, and 90% of the time the tactic fizzles for the lack of drama.

Etheridge is simply reflecting the zeitgeist of Democrat politics these days where officials are going underground to avoid their constituents. The paranoia and anxiety that must permeate the caucus simple boiled over in Etheridge's case.

Please learn the difference between communism and socialism. They are NOT the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. I'm not going to bother trying to convince you that you are insane, but if you are going to go off on an incoherent rant, please at least be precise. Additionally, if you actually knew the meaning of communism, you would understand that it is a logical fallacy to assert that communists do not believe in Equal Protection. Indeed, if they believe in anything, it would be the equality of rights. But, since you cannot separate socialism from communism, I understand that I am asking too much of you.

Additionally, to the commenter who declared the Senator a "menace to society," really? I agree he was wrong to grab those men, but your hyperbolic outrage is beyond reason.

I know why the democrats are acting like a criminal organization. It's because of the press. Look at the washington post. They won't hold anyone accountable, if they have a d by their name. Honestly, why don't you just say you work for the progressives in the democrat party. Be honest. Everyone pretty much knows this already. The democrats know that the press has their back. So, they can attack citizens, say Guam will tip over, steal and rob the citizens and the press will either make excuses or just not report it.

It is legal to film people in a public place. It is legal to ask them questions. It is illegal to grab them in any way without their permission.

Arrogance. Assault. Pretty clear cut, I don't care who they were or what signs they were holding. If you don't want to engage them, don't. If you want to physically engage them, be prepared for assault charges.

Don't be absurd. This isn't a case of "gotcha." Etheridge's behavior was absolutely unnacceptable. Unnaceptable from a decent human being, unacceptable from an American, and most certainly unacceptable from a Public Servant. Etheridge hasn't had to fight for his office for so long that he's forgotten that is supposed to word for us, not the other way around. He has become a disgrace to the Democratic Party, and should resign immediately.

Congressman Etheridge was not taunted or accosted. He was asked an innocuous question about his support of the President's agenda by a young person who looks like a harmless student.
He could have smiled and made some sort of generic "I'm committed to moving this nation forward" statement.

They said the same thing about Hinckley but then he tried assassinating Regan... or the same thing about son of Sam. Base your decisions on looks and you might end up paying for it with your life.....
Posted by: askgees | June 15, 2010 12:03 PM | Report abuse
Cho the VA Tech shooter was a harmless young student until he shot 32 people. Don’t assume anything especially if you’re a politician.

They said the same thing about Hinckley but then he tried assassinating Regan... or the same thing about son of Sam. Base your decisions on looks and you might end up paying for it with your life.....

Posted by: askgees

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You're clueless. The two young men were carrying flip video cameras. They asked a simple question; "Do you fully support President Obama's agenda?" Etheridge then grabbed one camera and the wrist of its owner. The other young man continued to film while Etheridge continued to assault the first. These men identified themselves as students doing a project. Etheridge is a public servant who was walking on a public sidewalk. People are allowed to film and ask questions of our elected officials. Elected officials are not allowed to respond by assaulting them. Etheridge certainly didn't think these guys were trying to shoot him as you suggest - he intentionally put his snarling face up to the camera!

It's disgusting that you, and even the media, are trying to turn this into an attack on the two young reporters who did NOTHING wrong and have every right to remain anonymous!!

Glad to see the Washington Post handling this story, which is an assault by a member of Congress on two students, with the same fairness/objectivity it used when handling the George Allen 'maccaca' story. NOT!

Those GOP operatives and their sneaky methods of asking a Congressman in plain daylight if he supports Obama's agenda. They must have an operative school for that. In week one you learn how to walk, in week two you learn how to talk, in week three you put that intense operative training to work and 1) Walk up to a Congressman and then 2) Talk to him. 3) Use the jedi mind powers also learned in operative school but not discussed here due to secrecy to make the Congressman make an a$$ out of himself. Brilliantly "staged". It's crazy how they get away with this and how they catch folks offguard. Those darn republican operatives must be stopped.

"Etheridge didn't "attack" anyone. I just watched the video, and I have no idea what all the fuss is about! If anyone was "provoked" it was the Congressman. And why wouldn't the "student" who was filming him without permission identify himself or his "project"? OBVIOUSLY a set-up!"

Are all libs on purple hippo crack? A set-up? Where's the hooker? where's the crack? a set-up of what? that's some deceptive setup, ask someone a question as they walk by, must have spent months in the middle east planning that one.

"Additionally, if you actually knew the meaning of communism, you would understand that it is a logical fallacy to assert that communists do not believe in Equal Protection. Indeed, if they believe in anything, it would be the equality of rights."

Okay there communist wizard, name one communist country, present or past, who's citizens had the same rights as say the government leaders. Just one. Like the right to leave the homeland, that would be good for starters.

They said the same thing about Hinckley but then he tried assassinating Regan... or the same thing about son of Sam. Base your decisions on looks and you might end up paying for it with your life.....

Posted by: askgees

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You're clueless. The two young men were carrying flip video cameras. They asked a simple question; "Do you fully support President Obama's agenda?" Etheridge then grabbed one camera and the wrist of its owner. The other young man continued to film while Etheridge continued to assault the first. These men identified themselves as students doing a project. Etheridge is a public servant who was walking on a public sidewalk. People are allowed to film and ask questions of our elected officials. Elected officials are not allowed to respond by assaulting them. Etheridge certainly didn't think these guys were trying to shoot him as you suggest - he intentionally put his snarling face up to the camera!

It's disgusting that you, and even the media, are trying to turn this into an attack on the two young reporters who did NOTHING wrong and have every right to remain anonymous!!

Posted by: anna_78750 | June 15, 2010 12:54 PM | Report abuse

LOL!!!!! Like the two Korean women that we're arrested crossing into North Korea. They also claimed they we're reporters for Al Gore. Sorry but one must actually be part of the press corps to claim they are reporter. These kids had no ID's stating who they we're and who knows what they could have been up to. But I'll tell you what; I'll bet you $100.00 if these same two kids tried the same thing with Obama they would be in much worse shape. Oh and I hate to burst your bubble but saying you are a student DOES NOT COUNT AS IDENTIFING YOURSELF. Talk about clueless…..

Communism, as a political theory has never been realized by a state. You can wipe that permagrin off your face and read a political science book. You will learn that as a theory, communism is supposed to end without any government. The USSR, China, Cuba and other countries that purport to be communist are only so in name.

In the decades when "liberals" and "progressives" held the media in a monopolistic choke-hold, conservative politicians dealt with such questioning on a regular basis, and most learned to respond properly. At present, there are a few more media outlets, and there is a little more balance. Leftist politicians may also need to learn to be more calm under pressure.

"Communism, as a political theory has never been realized by a state. You can wipe that permagrin off your face and read a political science book. You will learn that as a theory, communism is supposed to end without any government. The USSR, China, Cuba and other countries that purport to be communist are only so in name."

Awesome you communism wizard political science book reader you. Unfortunately, real people need to live in the real world and deal with the real consequences of how real communist dictators operate. I guess your right though, there has been no pure communist country, nor democratic, nor capitalist, nor libertarian, nor anything you read in a textbook. Deep thought? Not so much.

I know, right? you've got your playbook, Democrat politician commits violence against a citizen; and you've got your play already called... Attack the victim and make them look so bad nobody cares if they were attacked.

But now they won't tell you who the victim is so you can attack them? Unfair.

Don't they realize that the media NEEDS TO KNOW who these young men are so they can be attacked slandered and smeared 24/7 until this is a more level playing field between the person committing assault and the victim?

Kids these days, they're unwilling to stand up and get smeared by the media after being assaulted by a congressman... it's just not fair.